If guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns

December 23, 2011

It has been said that if guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns. City and federal authorities in Washington, D.C., which has some of the toughest gun control laws in the nation, reinforced that point this week.

Police announced a roundup of suspects, guns and illegal drugs that culminated a months-long undercover operation in Washington. Among weapons confiscated from criminals were automatic rifles and handguns with silencers. A total of 161 firearms were seized. One suspect had offered to sell undercover agents hand grenades and a rocket launcher.

Clearly, the criminal element in Washington is well armed. The city's strict gun laws don't seem to have even slowed violent thugs down. Meanwhile, law-abiding citizens who want to protect themselves, their families and their homes are told they can own guns only under very narrow restrictions.

Reasonable limits on gun ownership and use are agreeable to the vast majority of Americans. For example, not many would argue in favor of unregulated ownership of machine guns by individuals.

But those who see their firearms rights being eroded while criminals become ever-better armed have every right to wonder about government's priorities.